Beverage dispenser



March 17, 1936.

s. A. KRAFT BEVERAGE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 22, A1934 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 17, 1936 PATENT GFFICE BEVERAGE DISPENSER Selmer A. Kraft, St. Paul, Minn., assigner to A. W. Miller, St. Paul, Minn.

Application January 22, 1934, Serial No. 707,721

10 Claims.

,on the drawing of the beverage to produce foam.

In the drawing of such. beverage, especially beer, by means of an ordinary faucet, when a barrel is first tapped, or when too much air pressure is applied to the interior of the barrel, the beer Vis exceedingly effervescent, or wild, as it is generally termed, with the result that a large portion of the beer comes out of the faucet in the form of foam. In drawing a glass of beer in this condition with an ordinary faucet it is necessary to let the glass stand until the foam subsides and then refill the glass, or to strike oif the foam several times, refilling the glass after each striking operation until the proper proportion of liquid and foam is attained. When beer is drawn at a bar where several customers are to be served it is naturally impossible to set the glasses aside to wait for the foam to subside, and, therefore, it is necessary to resort to this striking process which wastes a large portion of the beer and it has been found that even a skilled bartender will waste from fifteen to twenty per cent. of the beer in a keg, due to this striking process. Y

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved and simplified beverage dispensing faucet.

In order to attain this object, there is provided, in accordance with one feature of the invention, a valve having a bypass into a chamber, from which chamber a secondary passage is provided to an outlet opening. A valve mechanism is controlled by an operating handle whereby the flow of the beverage to the chamber and from thence to an outlet opening may be readily controlled by means of said operating handle.

These and other features of the invention will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation with portions broken away to show the interior construction of a valve and chamber embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the valve structure shown in Figure 1 with the parts in a. different position from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View, similar to Figure 2, with the valve parts in a still different position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a valve element.

Figure 6 is a view, also in perspective, of a secondary valve element with a portion of' a valve member broken away. 5

Figure l is a View in perspective of a valve handle mounting pivot; and

Figure ,8. is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure: 1.-

Referring to the drawing in detail, a valve hous- 10 ing A is provided with a skirt I= adapted to engage a flat surface against which the device is positioned, such as an insulated wall 2 of a cooling coil chamber ofy a conventional type, which is provided with a. customary cover 3. Within the skirt I an interiorly threaded connecting portion 4 is formed integrally with the skirt I. A valve seat5 is-provi'ded in thel forward end of the portion 4 and from thence a passage lv extends forwardly through a boss cast integrally with the housing A. A threaded opening 1 extends upwardly from the top of the passage 8. into which is threadedly insorted a pipe 8.. An outwardly flaring support 9 extends upwardly from the skirt I, the member A being cored, as illustrated, to provide an open passage I0 extending forwardly to a discharge spout II, a wall I`0-a being provided across the rear end of the passage II)v to provide a liquid tight seal between this passage. and the interior of the skirt I. A valve seat I2 is provided at the forward 3o end of the passage I0.

Threadedly secured tothe upper end of the pipe 8 is an interiorly threaded member I3 having a central opening I4 therein in` alinement with the opening through the pipe 8. Four posts I5 are 35 provided on the. upper face of the member I3 and to these is secured a bell I-6 having an upwardly projecting, exteriorly threaded portion I-1 extending. upwardly from the upper face thereof (see Figure 8). This projection I'l is provided with 40 a laterally disposed perforation I8 therethrough, with a connecting passage I9 extending vertically therefrom.`

A cylindrical glass chamber 2U is adapted to have a liquid-tight seat on the upper end of the flared support 9 anda cover plate 2| rests upon the upper edge of the cylindrical glass chamber 2U, being held into liquid tight contact therewith by means of a nut 22 which is threadedly mounted on the projection I1. It will be noted in Figure 8 that the cover 2li is spaced slightly upwardly from the bell I6 to avoid closing the ends of the passage I8. The nut 22 has an air inlet charnber 23 at the upper end thereof with laterally disposed passages 24 through the walls of the 55 CII member 22. A sealing ring 25 is rotatably mounted to surround the member 22 and is provided with a plurality of ports 26 adapted to register with the openings 24 through the Walls of the member 22.

When these ports 26 are in registry with the openings 24 the interior of the chamber 20 is in open communication with the atmosphere, whereas, if these ports 26 are moved out of registry with the openings 24, the interior of the chamber 20 is shut olf from such atmospheric communication. It is desirable that a close rotatable t between the member 25 and the nut 22 be provided so that when the ports 26 are moved out of registry with the openings 24 a fairly airtight seal is provided.

Threadedly inserted in the connection 4 is a member 28 having a bushing 29 supported by a spider 39. This member 28 has formed integrally therewith a pipe 3l which is threaded to receive a flanged nut 32 which is screwed onto the pipe 3| to draw lthe skirt I closely against the supporting wall 2 to hold the faucet and associated parts in position. A valve `core member B has a cylindrical body portion 33 with a circular flange 34 substantially centrally thereof, of a diameter to have a free sliding t into the passage 6. From this cylindrical portion 34 four ribs 35 extend rearwardly to guide the member 34 into the opening 6. A guide pin 60 projects forwardly from the valve 43 and rides in a hole 6I to serve as a guide for the member B.

A hole 36 is provided in the rear end of the member B to slidably receive a pin 31 which has a flange 38 adapted to receive a washer 39, preferably of soft metal such as lead and tin alloy, the rear portion of the pin 31 being slidably mounted in the bushing 29, supported by the spider 30 in the member 28. A coil spring 40 is mounted in the forward end of the opening 36, forwardly of the pin 31, as shown in Figure 1, to exert a resilient, forward pressure on the member 33 to normally hold avalve 43 seated on the seat I2 to close the forward valve opening. A second coil spring 4I, materially stronger than this spring 49 surrounds the pin 31 rearwardly of the ilange 38 and abuts against the bushing 29 to exert a resilient forward pressure on the valve 39 to normally hold the valve 39 against Lthe seat 5. The seats 5 and I2 arepreferably of a relatively hard metal, such asV bronze, and where the entire member is of bronze theseseats may be machined from the metal of the member A. However, the member A should be of softer metal, such as die casting metal. Valve seat inserts of a harder metal, such as `bronze or stainless steel, may be used. A slotted opening 42 is provided adjacent the forward end of the core member B just rearwardly of the valve 43 which is adapted to seat in the valve seat I2. The valve 43 is also preferably provided with a soft metal face 43-a similar to the face 39. The valve 43 and the flange 34 are of a size to be removable through the passage 6 upon removal of the member 28.

An operating handle C has a ball handle 63 mounted on the upper end thereof and a yoke 44 has one arm thereof adapted to receive an end of a pivot pin 45, the pivot pin having a flattened portion 46 cut in an end thereof to receive a flattened portion of an otherwisev circular opening in the yoke to lock the pivot pin against rotative movement with respect to the handle The pin 45 has a second attened portion 41 adapted to have a close engaging fit in an opening in a valve operating arm 48 to secure the arm 48 against rotative movement with respect to the pin 45 and thereby with the operating handle C. The pin 45 has an extension 49 of reduced diameter on the inner end thereof to be pivotally mounted in a recess 5D in the faucet housing A. A gland 5I is threadedly inserted in an opening in the faucet housing A and engages a packing ring 52 to provide a liquid tight seal between the pin 45 and the valve housing A.

A spacing washer 53 is provided around a screw 54 which is threadedly inserted in an opening in the valve housingA, the yoke 44 being pivotally mounted upon the screw 54 to permit free relative pivotal movement of the handle C thereon. To remove the yoke handle the screw 54 is removed, the spacing washer 53 withdrawn from its position between the yoke handle and the side of the valve housing A, and the yoke 44 is then moved to the left from the position shown in Figure 4, the pin 45 being manually held against movementl during such lateral movement of the yoke by means of a drift pin, or other suitable instrument, not shown. The yoke 44 upon clearing the end of the pin 45, frees the yoke handle from the pin and the yoke may thereupon be removed.

The lower end of the Valve operating member 48 is rounded, as shown in Figures l, 2, and 3, and fits within the slotted opening 42.

The operation of the valve is as follows: When the handle C is in its extreme rearward position, as shown in Figure 1, and in which position it is normally held by the action of the springs 49 and 4I, the valve operating arm 43 is moved to its extreme forward position, with the valve 43 in sealing engagement with the valve seat I2 and with the valve 39 in sealing engagement with the valve seat 5. In this position the flange 34 is clear of the opening 6, but the ribs 35 are still in position within the opening 6 to serve in guiding the flange 34 into the opening. In this position of the valve handle any liquid in the tube 8 would be free to flow downwardly and out of the forward end of the passage 6 to a level equal to that of liquid in the chamber 20 or the passage I0. When the valve handle C is drawn forward by the operator to the position shown in Figure 2, the forward valve 43 is free of its seat I2 and in this position would permit any beverage contained in the chamber 20 to ow downwardly through the passage I and outwardly through the spout I I, the spring 4I, however, being materially stronger than the spring 40 still holding the valve 39 in sealing position against its seat 5.

In the position shown in Figure 3 both the valves 39 and 43 will be clear of their seats and the flange 34 will be in position within the opening 6. It is not necessary that a close sealing fit be provided between the flange r34 and the opening 6, it being suicient that a tight enough fit be provided so that with the inlet valve 39 open a majority of the beverage coming in past the valve 39 will be directed upwardly through the pipe 8, outwardly over the top of the member I3 past the posts I and downwardly along the interior of the bell I6 and into the chamber 20; thence the beverage flows downwardly through the flared support 9, passage I9, and outwardly through the spout I I. The pipe 3l, as previously mentioned, is connected to a cooling coil or other suitable cooling means, not shown, of a conventional type and in a conventional manner so that the beverage is supplied under pressure to the pipe 3I.

Assuming that the necessary preliminary connections have been made and that it is desired to draw a glass of beverage, the valve handle C is drawn forward to the position 3 which permits the beverage to flow in past the valve 39, upwardly through the pipe 8 and downwardly through the passage Il] and outwardly through the discharge spout Il into a glass, not shown. When the beverage is discharged from the bell I6 downwardly along the walls of the tube 8 into the chamber 2G, some foam is created, but such foam will, of course, oat on the liquid in the chamber 2U and the beverage issuing from the spout Il will flow downwardly intoA a glass,

not shown.

This rst portion of the beverage drawn with the handle in the position of Figure 3 contains a large number of tiny bubbles, the larger bubbles, having a great buoyancy, oating to the surface in the chamber 20. These small bubbles rise to the surface in the glass and form a ne, creamy foam on top of the beverage on the glass. When the glass is about three-quarters filled with the handle in the position shown in Figure 3, at which point it has been found by experiment the proper amount of foam will be present in the glass, the valve maybe momentarily closed by moving the handle Cto the position shown in Figure l to move the flange 3l! beyond the passage 6 and permit the beverage in the tube 8 to assume the level of beverage in the chamber 20 and the passage IU.

The valve is then moved to the position of Figure 2 whereupon beverage remaining in the chamber 20 and passage l0 ows by gravity out through the spout H into the glass. Very little, if any, additional foam is created by this gravity flow and the line foam in the glass, as above described, is carried up with the liquid in the glass.

The neness of the foam, due to the small size of the bubbles, forming it, makes the foam last much longer than foam caused by the drawing of the beverage with an ordinary type faucet. The rate of gravity flow of the liquid in the chamber 20 with the operating handle in the position of Figure 2 may be varied by adjusting the collar 25 to open or close the ports 24. By opening these ports air under atmospheric pressure is admitted to the chamber 20 to accelerate the flow, while the closing of the ports, of course, acts in the contrary manner. When the glass is filled the handle C is moved to the position shown in Figure 1 which closes the forward valve and thereby cuts oi the flow of beverage.

The use of a soft metal valve seating against a seat of harder metal provides a valve which has a constant tendency to properly seat itself and slight distortions of the valve sucient to cause a leakage of the valve have been found to correct themselves and stop the leak in a few days of normal operation thereof.

The device comprises a simple and eiective mechanism for drawing beer or other beverage from a container and provides simple and effective means to control the gaseous discharge of the beverage when drawn.

It has been found that even in the hands of an inexperienced operator beer can be drawn from a freshly opened barrel in what would ordinarily be a wild condition and the amount of foam in the glasses accurately controlled without loss of beverage and without the necessity for striking. If the beverage is not sufficiently eiervescent, additional air pressure can be applied to the beverage in its container in a. well known manner, which will discharge it from the tube 8 andthe belly t6 with greater force, and thereby create more foam.

As shown in thedrawing the tubular body 2i? is provided with an opening I9, which may be utilized to allow cleaning material to be introduced to and passed through the body, and particularly at a point between the inlet and outlet valves.

I claim:

1. A beverage dispenser comprising a valve housing, a chamber carried by said valve housing and in open communication therewith, a passage interiorly of said valve housing having a normally closed valve mounted on an end thereof, a by-pass from said passage into said chamber, said valve housing having a discharge opening therein, a normally closed, secondary valve mounted adjacent said discharge opening, and valve operating means mounted to have one position to open said second valve and having av second position to simultaneously open both of said valves.

2. A beverage dispenser, comprising a valve housing, a chamber carried by said Valve housing and in open communication therewith, a passage interiorly of said valve housing having a normally closed Valve mounted on an end thereof and. having a closure plate mounted in axial alinementtwith said valve, a by-pass from said passage into .said chamber, said valve housing having a discharge opening therein adjacent the bottom of said chamber to drain the contents of said chamber through said discharge opening, secondary valve means mounted in axial alinement with said first valve and having limited slidable connection therewith, said secondary valve means being connected to said closure plate to operate therewith, and a valve operating handle connected to said secondary valve means to slidably operate said valve means to control a flow o-f beverage through said dispenser.

3. A beverage dispenser having a chamber with an inlet passage therein opening into an upper portion of said chamber, said chamber having a discharge opening adjacent the bottom thereof, a normally closed inlet valve mounted in said inlet passage and connected to a supply of beverage under pressure, a normally closed discharge valve mounted in said discharge opening, and valve operating means having a primary operating position to open said discharge valve only, and having a secondary operating position to operate both of said valves.

4. A beverage dispenser having a tubular inlet passage opening into the upper portion of said chamber, a cap positioned over said passage and spaced upwardli7 therefrom to deflect incoming liquor laterally along the lower face of said cap, said cap having inwardly tapered side walls depending from the outer edge thereof to direct said incoming liquid toward the wall of said inlet passage, said chamber having a discharge opening adjacent the bottom thereof, and valves mounted in said inlet passage and said outlet opening to control the flow of liquid therethrough.

5. A beverage dispenser having a chamber with aligned inlet and discharge openings therein, a tubular passage extending upwardly from said inlet opening and opening into said chamber adjacent the top thereof, a composite valve member having a spring-held inlet valve mounted to normally close said inlet opening, and a springheld discharge valve of smaller diameter than said inlet opening, said discharge valve having limited slidable connection with said inlet valve and being removable with said inlet valve through said inlet opening.

6. A beverage dispenser comprising a valve housing, a passageway through said housing, having inlet and discharge openings, inlet and outlet control valves for said passageway, a chamber supported by said housing, said chamber being provided with means of communication with the outside atmosphere independently of ysaid housing, a by-pass from said passageway intermediate said inlet and outlet control valves to said chamber, a discharge passageway from said chamber to the discharge opening of said valve housing, and common control means for said valves so mounted as to open one control valve ahead of the other.

7. A beverage dispenser comprising a valve housing, a passageway through said housing, having inlet and discharge openings, inlet and outlet control valves for said passageway, a chamber supported by said housing, a by-pass from said passageway intermediate said inlet and outlet control valves to said chamber, a discharge passageway lfrom said chamber to the discharge opening of said valve housing, and common control means for said valves so mounted as to open one control valve ahead of the other.

8. A dispensing faucet including a tubular body having an opening to allow cleaning material to be introduced into and passed through the body, a closure for the opening, a first automatically closing valve reciprocable for controlling inlet of fluid into the body, a second automatically closing valve for preventing leaking of residual fluid remaining in the body after closure of the inlet valve following a dispensing operation, and means for operating the valves to rst open the second without opening the first, and on continued motion of the second, to open the first.

9. A faucet having a body, a first valve for admitting liquid into the body, a second valve for controlling liquid outlet from the body, said body having an opening through which cleaning fluid can be` introduced thereinto at a point between the valves, and means for operating the valves to open the second without opening the rst and on continued opening movement of the second to open the rst, part of said means being disposed within the body between the valves.

10. A gas-charged beverage dispenser having a body divided by a partition into a forward discharge chamber and a rear valve chamber, said partition having an inlet opening and said forward chamber. having a discharge opening, said partition having a forwardly extending tubular portion providing an opening for allowing upward escape of gas into the forward chamber, a selfclosing inlet valve normally closing the inlet orifice, a self-closing valve having means guiding it in said tubular passage, and having limited slidable connection with the inlet valve, and means for controlling the valves.

SELMER A. KRAFT. 

